Posted: 12/15/2012 6:22:36 PM EDT
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I've been looking for awhile for a lightweight commander. I need the full sized grip frame, but want the 4 inch-ish slide length. The COLT lightweight Commander is the only one I know of really. I had one that was comped using an officers slide. I don't want a rail, I don't want external extractor, and I don't want Kimber (though the CQB pro is almost exactly what I want but previous history prevents me from using a Kimber for anything other than a range gun).
I've looked at Nighthawk... close, but grip is not full-sized. Wilson seems like the way I'll probably have to go. I'm looking to build an absolute no comprise carry 1911 with setup exactly how I want. I can't seem to figure out if Dan Wesson, Les Bear, or others even make that configuration. Any ideas? I can't remember the name of the guy, but he was a gunsmith at Wilson who left and started up his own shop I believe... anyone know if he's up and running? |
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My EDC gun is a Dan Wesson Guardian 45 its an accurate and reliable weapon. It has a full size aluminum grip frame and its very easy to carry with the bobtail. That's close. There's some things I'd need to change on it. I have to give them a call and see what that gets me into. I did do some research on Fusion Firearms, I don't think they're the company I was talking about. I really wish I could remember who it was. I just remember the guy left Wilson Combat. It's hard to invest a lot of money with Fusion. It's like Kimber... for every good review you hear, there's five horror stories. Cut that in half for internet hearsay, and you still have a lot of problems it seems. This is the custom 1911 that Bob Cogan built for me 10 years or so ago. I think I'll just give him a call to see if he can build me pretty much the exact gun in a lightweight version and not compensated. 
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Springfield makes what you want, although they call their model "Champion". I have a Springfield LW Champion (4") that's been 100%, albeit a GI model which is the base gun in their line-up. It's been a good pistol if you don't mind the bull barrel, and it does feed hollow points reliably. a-bare |
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I'm giving more thought to that direction. I sort of wanted to avoid buying a base gun and going full bore custom in favor of a semi-custom that got me 90% there and could easily live with.
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Springfield makes what you want, although they call their model "Champion". I have a Springfield LW Champion (4") that's been 100%, albeit a GI model which is the base gun in their line-up. It's been a good pistol if you don't mind the bull barrel, and it does feed hollow points reliably. a-bare |
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I'm giving more thought to that direction. I sort of wanted to avoid buying a base gun and going full bore custom in favor of a semi-custom that got me 90% there and could easily live with. Quoted:
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Springfield makes what you want, although they call their model "Champion". I have a Springfield LW Champion (4") that's been 100%, albeit a GI model which is the base gun in their line-up. It's been a good pistol if you don't mind the bull barrel, and it does feed hollow points reliably. a-bare They make a Loaded Champion. It has night sights, ambi-safety, and lowered/flared ejection port. a-bare |
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I'm giving more thought to that direction. I sort of wanted to avoid buying a base gun and going full bore custom in favor of a semi-custom that got me 90% there and could easily live with. Quoted:
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Springfield makes what you want, although they call their model "Champion". I have a Springfield LW Champion (4") that's been 100%, albeit a GI model which is the base gun in their line-up. It's been a good pistol if you don't mind the bull barrel, and it does feed hollow points reliably. a-bare They make a Loaded Champion. It has night sights, ambi-safety, and lowered/flared ejection port. a-bare Thanks a-bare. Now I remember the deal with SA. The Loaded is green, the officer has a light rail. This is what I came to... by the time I checker the front strap, refinish, replace the trigger, and a few other things, I'm well into the price of a top tier semi-custom. |
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Ron Phillips and some other folks left Wilson about 10-12 years ago and started Nighthawk. After several years there, Ron left Nighthawk and was doing guns under his own name. Last I heard (1-2 years ago), he was back at Wilson. THATS IT! Thanks! His site is still online. I'll have to shoot him an email to see if he's still making guns. |
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Ron Phillips and some other folks left Wilson about 10-12 years ago and started Nighthawk. After several years there, Ron left Nighthawk and was doing guns under his own name. Last I heard (1-2 years ago), he was back at Wilson. THATS IT! Thanks! His site is still online. I'll have to shoot him an email to see if he's still making guns. http://blog.wilsoncombat.com/uncategorized/welcome-back-ron-phillips/ 
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Ron Phillips and some other folks left Wilson about 10-12 years ago and started Nighthawk. After several years there, Ron left Nighthawk and was doing guns under his own name. Last I heard (1-2 years ago), he was back at Wilson. THATS IT! Thanks! His site is still online. I'll have to shoot him an email to see if he's still making guns. http://blog.wilsoncombat.com/uncategorized/welcome-back-ron-phillips/ Looks like he still maintains his shop part time.. Though that was awhile ago |
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Well... I was seriously thinking of getting a Wilson Combat Professional Lightweight (not bobbed and with a magewell), since it's pretty much exactly what I'm looking for. I just read though that their timeframe up to two years is not uncommon. That's just a a deal breaker for me. My thought is, that as a company, if you have that much a consistent backlog, it's time to expand.
But I digress.. So I'm back looking for a solution. |
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I've been very happy with my S&W 1911sc 4" barrel pistol it is most often my CCW piece S&W was one of the first makers I checked out. I have an M&P AR and an M&P .45. I'm just not a huge fan of the external extractor. I have no evidence to backup my feelings about it or to have a rational discussion, but it's just the way I feel. Having 1911's now and in the past, I know exactly what I want and don't for this carry gun. I know I'm going to have to go custom or higher end semi custom, but there's just not much out there in a lightweight commander configuration. I'm thinking talking with LesBear to see what they can do for me. I won't pay Wilson Combat money though for an LB. Dan Wesson is another option, but I'd have to make a lot of changes and I've read elsewhere they don't seem to like to do that very much. We'll see. Now that the holidays are over, I can get back on it. |
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Springfield LW Champion Operator. This one has had a little work from the custom shop. http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/x438/dnuggett/LWChamp-1.jpg http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/x438/dnuggett/LWChamp-2.jpg Awesome! That's my perfect 1911 right there. I didn't even know SA made a LW Champ with a rail. Nice! |
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I'm confused. Why don't you just buy a Colt LW Commander? My Wiley Clapp Commander has been absolutely flawless. Because for this gun, ther are some specific things I want and require. I re-read your OP. Quoted:
I've been looking for awhile for a lightweight commander. I need the full sized grip frame, but want the 4 inch-ish slide length. The COLT lightweight Commander is the only one I know of really. I had one that was comped using an officers slide. I don't want a rail, I don't want external extractor, and I don't want Kimber (though the CQB pro is almost exactly what I want but previous history prevents me from using a Kimber for anything other than a range gun). I've looked at Nighthawk... close, but grip is not full-sized. Wilson seems like the way I'll probably have to go. I'm looking to build an absolute no comprise carry 1911 with setup exactly how I want. I can't seem to figure out if Dan Wesson, Les Bear, or others even make that configuration. Any ideas? I can't remember the name of the guy, but he was a gunsmith at Wilson who left and started up his own shop I believe... anyone know if he's up and running? What are your requirements that the Colt doesn't meet? |
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I'm confused. Why don't you just buy a Colt LW Commander? My Wiley Clapp Commander has been absolutely flawless. Because for this gun, ther are some specific things I want and require. I re-read your OP. Quoted:
I've been looking for awhile for a lightweight commander. I need the full sized grip frame, but want the 4 inch-ish slide length. The COLT lightweight Commander is the only one I know of really. I had one that was comped using an officers slide. I don't want a rail, I don't want external extractor, and I don't want Kimber (though the CQB pro is almost exactly what I want but previous history prevents me from using a Kimber for anything other than a range gun). I've looked at Nighthawk... close, but grip is not full-sized. Wilson seems like the way I'll probably have to go. I'm looking to build an absolute no comprise carry 1911 with setup exactly how I want. I can't seem to figure out if Dan Wesson, Les Bear, or others even make that configuration. Any ideas? I can't remember the name of the guy, but he was a gunsmith at Wilson who left and started up his own shop I believe... anyone know if he's up and running? What are your requirements that the Colt doesn't meet? It's not the gun itself, but the customization I want. If you look at my Gold Cup in the photo, you'll notice it's totally custom. I really just want that in a lightweight version. There are plenty of guns that have the feature I'm looking for, but either they are in a non-lightweight version or they don't have the full sized grip. I absolutely don't want a bobtail or light rail. There just seems to be a hole for the config I'm looking for off the shelf from a semi custom shop. |